Heel-shaping machine



SePt- 24 1929 c. EIBYE Er AL 1,729,251

HEEL` SHAPING MACHINE Filed Jfan. 18, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 24, l929 c. EHYE ET AL HEEL SHAPING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1928 Sept. 24,' 1929. c. EIBYE Er AL HEEL SHAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1928 ept. 24, lg

C. @BYE ET M.

HEEL sHAlING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 11928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @mwN/L @En ,l

sept. 24,` 1929. c. Eleve er AL HEEL s'HArINalAHmn v Filed Jan. 18, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \m Mm.

NQ HIV Patented. sept. 24, i929 UNITED" STATES PATEN'I lOFFICE'y CARL EIBYE, F BOSTON, AND El'JGg BERTRAM, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS HEELSHAYING MACHINE v I Application filed January 18, 192:8.` Serial No. 247,507.

Our invention relates to machines for shaping wood heels and it has for its object to provide an improved and eiiicient/machine of this class. l

; At vpresent most. womens shoes are made with wood heels and a popular and extensively-used style is known as the Louis heel. This particular kind of heel is made with a shank or.lip at the top ofits breast which is very thin and transversely arcuate or curved. Originally this shank was shaped or molded upon its under side manually by a workman holding the heel with two'hands and wiping the shank against a rapidly rotating sand paper wheel. This method is still employed to a considerable extent. even substantial uniformity in all heels was impossible by this method as the degree of .accuracy with which the shank was shaped dethis mode of 'operation' was to produce a clean sharp corner at the side of the heelbreast which lthe cutter first engaged, while at the opposite sideof the breast the corner would be left rough and feathered, requiring manual touching up or trimming to remove the feather edge. A further objection was that the cutter would often chip or split the heel, particlarly the thin shan-k thereof, adj as cent the side at which the cutter departed from the work, thus destroying a large percentageof the heels operated upon.

In the manufacture of wood heelsv the shank shaping is almost invariably the last of several separately performed shaping operations necessary rto convert a wood blank .scribed is important. Obviously exact orV pended altogether upon the skill of the workseveral operations referred to is the concaving of the top of the heel to adapt it to tit the convex heel portion of the sole of the shoe, and the depression formed by thisconcaving operation extends into the shank, so that 5r when the last operation of breasting or shank shaping is performed the exterior or under lIside of this shank is made transversely convex, the lip being reduced so that it is very thin and frail particularly at ,its forward end.

`It will, therefore, bef clear that the problem ofpshap'ing the exterior or under side ofthe shank without destruction of the heel jand without production of a feather edge as de- The purpose of the invention` is to provide an etlicient machine for kaccurate and rapidly shaping the breasts and und r faces of Shanks of wood heels without pro uction of split or feathered edges.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevationof the upper 7 portionI of the heel shaping machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine with some of the mechanismat the top thereof removed; 4

Fig. 3 is a detail hereinafter described;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine showing parts broken away and partsof the work holder removed;

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, las viewed' from the left;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the cutters;

rF ig. 7vis a side elevation of a wood heel block to be` shaped;

Fig. `8 is aper'spective after being shaped; and

Fig; 9 is a plan view of the work holder.

The machine 'show-n herein as one good form of the invention has two rotary cutters supporte-din a predetermined spaced relation and a movable work holder which 'grips and firmly holds the work while being operated upon by saidcutters. This work holder is view of the? heel 9o reciprocated to shift it first into cooperative f into a completely shaped heel. One of the` relationship with one rotary cutter and ,then

ai@ other, and a is also Oscillatea in timed,

relation with its reciprocating movement so as to swing the heel sidewise into engagement with the cutters successively. Thus the bloclr is first presented sidewise to one of the rotary cutters which partially shapes the breast and l under face of the shank by cutter strokes directed inward from one side of the heel, and then the block is presented sidewise to the other rotary cutter which completes the shaping thereof by cutter strokes directed inward from the opposite side of the heel. While the construction and mode of operation just referred to is a characterizing and distinguishing feature of our improved machine in its best form whereby the production vof the feather edge referred to is avoided, yet the fundamental idea involved in the same is the provision of lthe two rotary cutters which operate in succession upon the block of the heel from opposite sides thereof, one entering into engagement with the block at one side of the latter and partially traversing the breast and shank and the other entering into engagement with the block at the opposite side thereof and completing the -breast and shank shaping operation; the heel and heel holder being oscillated in one direction tocalse the first cutter to perform its workand in the opposite direction to cause the second cutter to perform its work, thus producing a transversely concave breast and a convex veriterior surface on 'the shank which may be approxi-.

mately parallel with the surface of the concave .top of the heel.

Referringrto the drawings, 1 and 2 designate twocontinuously rotating cutter heads, the former rotating in 'a left hand direction as is indicated by an arrow in Fi 1 and the latter rotating in a right hand irection as is also indicated bv an arrow infFig. 1. The

cutter head 1 is fast on a shaft 3 journaled in bearings 4 on the frame'5 of the machine, and the cutter head 2 is fast ona shaft 6 Journaled in bearings 7 on said frame. At the bottom of the frame is a platform'8 on which is mounted an electric motor-9 whose armature shaft 10 carries twopulleys 11 and 12, Figs. 2 and 4, pulley 11 being connected by a crossed belt 13 with. a pulley 14 fast onv heel H is engaged by a breast-engaging gauge 20 and aside gauge 2 1, Figs. 4, 5 and 9.-

The work holder 17 is mounted upon a slide or carriage 22 resting on ways 23 and is held down thereon by gibs 24 on the carriage. A

link y2,5 is connected to the carriage and top f of an upstanding lever 26 fulcrumed at 27 on frame 5. A cam roll 28 on the lever engages `a cam 29 (Figs. 2 and 4)v fast. on the main shaft 3Q of the machine. To rotate the shaft a gear31 thereon meshes witha pinion 32 fast on one endy of a' transverse, inclined shaft 33 journaled in bearings on the frame of the machine. At its opposite end this shaft 'carries a worm wheel/34 driyen by. a worm 35 fast on a countershaft 36 journaled in bearings on the frame. This countershaft carries a pulley 37 connected by aA belt 38 with a pulley/39 fast on the armature shaft 10 of the motor.-

The gear 31 is loosely mounted on shaft 30, but is held against endwise movement `relatively th'e'reto.. A one-reVolution-and-stop mechanism 40 is provided on shaft 30 and cooperates with the hub lof gear 31. This mechanism is of usual construction, and therefore it Jis unnecessary to showT and describe the same in detail herein. A revolution of the shaft-30 is initiated bypressure on a foot treadle 41 normally held up by a spring (not shown). AAfter the shaft 3Q makes one revo- ,lution the mechanism automatically is discon- 'nected from the hub of gear 31 and another revolution of the latter can not be occasioned until after treadle 41 has moved up`- ward to its normal elevated position. Each revolution of Y.the shaft 30 reciprocates the lever-26 once, starting from a position of rest which is at the extreme of its movement toward the left in Figs. 1 and 2. Through the connections just described the carriage 22, the work holder 17 and the lheelI-Icarried by the latter, are reciprocated on the ways 23 to shift the work holder 17 out of cooperative position withrelatioh to cutter 1 and into cooperative 'relation with the other cutter 2, followed by return of the work holder 17 into cooperative relationshipl with the cutter 1.

` When opposite each cutter head the work holder- 17 is oscillated by mechanism including a pinion 43 (Fig. 5) fast upon the lo/wer end of a vertical spindle-44 on the carriage and carrying the work holder. Pinion 43 is engaged by la rack 45 connected by a link 4G with the top of anunstanding lever 47 (Fig.

2) fulcru'med at its lowerend at 27 on the This lever 47 /carries aroll 48 enframe. gaged by a cam 49, fast on shaft 30. The two cams 29 and 49 (Fig. 2) receive a-revolutidn 'freni shaft 30 and reciprocate the two levers 26 and 47. The lever 47 normally occupies a position at the limit of its movement toward theleftin Figs. 1 and 2. n

The breast-engaging andy heel-positioning gauge 2O is held in operativeposition by a cam 5,0 (Figs. 3 and 4) fast on shaft 30 and cooperating with aroll 51 mounted upon the lower end portion of an upstanding connecting rod 52 adJacent the back of the machine.

The upper end of this rod is pivotally con` -1 push rod 56 slidable longitudinally inbearings on the frame of the machine. The forward end of said rodengages the gauge mem.- ber 20 which is yieldingly held against said end by a spring 57, Figs: 5 and 9. The cam 50 moves the gauge 20 down into operative position just as the shaft completes each revolution and at the start of each revolution said cam 50 permits the spring 57 to raise the gauge 2O into an elevated position where it is out of the path of the heel, and where it Vremains until the revolution of the shaft 30 e.. is nearly completed.

The heel positioning gauge 20 is pivotally supported' by a pintle 58 (Figs. 5 and 9) having threaded engagement with a lug 59 on the machine frame. The gauge can be adjusted laterally as may be required for different shapes or styles of heels by )rotative adjust.-v ment of the pintle.

The work holder 17 (Figs. 1 and 9) includes a base frame comprising a pair of parallel side bars 60 having standing cheeks 60a connected by a cross bar 60b having a hole receiving the shank of a screw '61 provided at its outer end with a handle, said screw being confined against movement longitudinally yrelatively to the cross bar 60h. The screw 61 is threaded into a bore in a block 62 fitting and adapted to-slide bet-Ween the walls 60a. `At the top of the block are outstanding flanges resting upon the top edges of the cheeks 60a. The block has a vertical hole receiving the upper end portion of the spindle 44 to which it is locked against rotative displacement thereon by a key 63 (Fig. 4). The block and the two bars 60 rest upon and are clamped down against a capstan nut 64 by a nut 65 threaded to the upper end of spindle 44. The capstan nut is threaded to the intermediate threaded portion 67 of spindle 44. This construction permits accurate vertical positioning of the heel supporting parts of the work holder with respect to the rotary cutters 1 and 2, and the'fscrew 61 permits accurate positioning of said partsv laterally with respect to the 'cutters 1 and 2. These adjustments` may be made when shifting from .one style or shape of heel to another.

The cheeks 60?l have slots 68 receiving clamping screws 69 threaded into bores in the block 62. When these screws are set up they clamp the block and cheeks together in their adj usted positions.

The fixed heel-engaging and clamping jaw 18 has its lower end pivotally mounted on a pin 70 (Fig. 1) extending between and carried by the side bars 60. Pivotally connected to the jaw are a pair of slotted links 7l adapt# ed to be rigidly clamped to the cheeks vby screws 7 2,-thereby to hold the jaw in different positions of angularadjustment.

The jaw 19`is set into a socket 19a (Figg) on a cross-head 73 (Figs. I and 9), andis held bg., a screw 74 extending through a slot 75 ig. 5) in the crosshead,.and threaded into a. bore in jaw 19. Secured to the cross-head 73 are rods 76 slidably mounted in holes ex tending longitudinally through the side 'bars 60. The ends of the rods 76 opposite to the cross-head are threaded to receiver nuts 77 in recesses at-the oppositecnds of an abutment bar 78 (Figs. 1 and 9) carrying a rol-ler 79 cooperating with the cam hub of a clampoperating lever' 80 fulcrumed at 81y between the ends of the side bar 60. A pair of springs 82 are connected. with the abutment bar 78 j an-d with the bars 60 and urge the jaw 19 in heel unclamping direction toward the left (Figs. 1 and 9).

\ When the'free'end of the clamping lever 80 is thrown upward its cam hub permits the springs 82 to act through abutment bar 7 8, nuts 77, slide rods 7 6l and cross-head 73, and

shift the"jaw19 away from-the jaw 18 to allow insertion of a heel between the jaws or removal of the heel therefrom. When the free end of clamping lever-80 is thrown down.- ward Vuntil it rests upon the abutment bar 78, its cam hub 'acts through said abutment bar, nuts, rods, and cross-head, `to cause the jaw 19 to clamp a heel rigidlyin position between the jaws. The operator may use one hand to place -the heel in position against jaw 18,

gauge 2() and gauge 2,1, and he may use his other hand to throw the lever 8() down and clamp the heel in place.

Secured tothe under side. of the opposite i ends of theu carriage. ways 23 (Fig. 5) by screws 83 are four lug plates 85 projecting intogrooves 86 extending longitudinally in the outer sides oftwo arms' 5 constitutingpart of the frame of the machine. These lug plates'85 lock the ways 23 to the arms and allow them to be adjusted, together withvthe work holder 17 ,toward and from thecutters as may be required bythe size or styleof heel to be'operated upon, and to compensate for wear or grinding of the cutters. To eiect this adjustment a screw 87 is provided having a shank portion rotatably mounted in a bore in a cross bar 88 which is part of thev maf' chine frame. The screw is confined against movement in the'direction'of the length thereof. The inner end portion of the screw is threaded into a bore in one of the ways 23 and at its outer end isa handle 89 by means of which -it may be adjusted. v

When a wood heel has been prepared for the shank shaping operation it has the form shown in full lines in Figs. 7 and 8, in which 90 designates the shank of the heel and 9,1 the concaved top thereof. After the vheel has been operated upon by the machine, the shank portion thereof has been reduced from the Cil fullline form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 an amount indicated b the dotted lines in Fig. 8.l

The boss 22?? of e carriage 22 has rigidly coupled to its lower end a yoke 92 that embraces and holds iii cooperative relationship the raclg and pinion 43, said yoke providing a guide for the rack when the latter is moved endwise relatively tothe pinion v43 by lever 47. This yoke is held interlocked with the lower end ofboss 22a by means of a nut 9?).

on the lower threaded portion of spindle 44. The coupled shank lip on the heel i's very thin and frail and since the parts of the machine are so` adjustedl that the heel H is gripped forcibly by the clamping jaws 18 and 19, it is desirable to provide, as herein shown, a supporting post 100,(Fig. 9), which may be a screw -adjustably mounted inv the upper end portion .of the clamping j aw 18 and engaging the concaved top side of the heel to support the same against -the..pressure of d the clamping jaws and the thrust of the cutter. j

rl`he side gauge 21 is fastened rigidly to the fixed jaw 18 by a clamping screw 101 (Fig. 5) extending through a slot in gauge 21, its /inner end being threaded into abore in said jaw. The gauge 21. is made with a laterally extending ear swivelled-on the rear end of a stem 102 (Fig. 9) threaded into a hole in said aw. At its forward end the stem I 102 is provided with a handle 103 by means of y which the stem can be rotated to adjust gauge 21 after loosening clamping screw 101.f

In use, the operator places a heel block H (Fig. 7 in the machine with its top vresting against the .jaw 18, its front face resting again'stthe gauge 20 and a side resting against the gauge 21. `While holding the heel in this position the operator throws the clamping lever 80 down thereby causing the jaws 18V and 19 to grip the heel. He then depresses the foot treadle 41 which causes the shaft 30 to make one revolution and stop. The gauge 20 is' thrown up' out of the way immediately at the start of cam shaft rotation, and during the iirst half of this rotation the tw`o levers 26 and 47 move together toward the right (Figs. 1 and 9), and the work holder is shifted from a position where the axis of spindle 44 intersects` the extended axis of the shaft 3, to a position where the axis of the spindle intersects the extended axis of the shaft 6. During the last half of the cam shaft rotation the work holder is shifted back to its iirst position' again. "Thus the work holder is shiftvend'thereoffwill travel in the curved path ing the rotative adjustment of spindle 44 so.

that at the instant that the holder is returned to 'its first position opposite cutter 1 the heel occupies approximately the dot-and-dash positionindicated lat g. While the'holder isl moving from cutter 2 to cutter 1 the aforementioned point on the front face of the heel will travel approximatelyl the sinuous path indicated by the arrows that are pointed toward cutter 1 and which are between the position of the heel indicatedat e and the position indicated at g. At the moment that the heel reaches the position] indicated at g the lever 26 completes its movement toward the left (Figs. 1 and 2), which occurs before lever 47 has returned to its starting position. Therefore, the continued movement of lever "47 will rotate the work holder on the axis of vspindle 44 and thereby swing the heel from the position indicated at g around to the position from which it started, indicated at a.

During this swing of theheel the point" During the travel of thel work holder to wardtheright the axis of spindle 44 reaches a posltion where it intersects the extended axis of shaft 6 before the heel. shown as approaching cutter 2 at b, c and d, is engaged' by said cutter. After the work 'holder reaches this position where the axes intersect, movement of lever 26 toward the right ceases while the movement of the lever 47 toward the right vcontinues thereby swingingv the heel around the axis of the spindle 44 into the'position indictated'at e during which time the cutter 2 traverses and operates upon only oneV side portion of the shank lip.l That is, the movement of lever .47 does not continue far enough to swingthe heel past cutter 2. When the heel is later swung from the position in-l dicated at g around the axis of spindle 44 to theposition indicated at a, the cutter 1 com pletes the shaping of the shank lip. It will be clear that both cutters operate upon the heel byrcutting strokes which are directed inwardly from the sides of the breast so that chipping or splitting of the heet is avoided and a'clean, sharp corner free of feather; is produced ateach side of the breast.

It will be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope vof the appended claims.

- successively to shape portions of the concave breast and under convex face of the heel shank with cuts commencing at opposite sides of the heel block and directed inward therefrom.

2. A machine for shaping breasts and A Shanks of wood heels comprising, in-combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder, and means to impart tothe heel holder and a heel block reciprocatory-and oscillatory movements to cause the cutters succes'- sively to shape portions of the breast and under face of the heel block shank with cuts commencing at opposite sides of the heel and directed inward therefrom.y

3. A machine for shaping` breasts and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced rotary cutters, a heel block holder, and means for moving the holder and a heel block to present the heel to said cutters and having provision for, imparting partial rotative movements to v the holder when at said cutters, that one cutter may partially shape the breast and under face of the heel shank, and the other cutter may complete.

shaping of said breast and shank.

4. A machine for shaping breast and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of spacedrotary cutters, means to rotate said cutters inopposite directions, a heel block holder, means to rock the holder and a heel block thereon relatively to one of the cutters, that the cutter blades may make strokes inward along the breastand under face of the heel shank from one rside of the heel shank, said means having provision to rock the holder'and heel relatively to the other cutter, that the blades thereof may make strokes directed inward along said breast and shank face from the opposite side of the heel.

5. A machine for shaping breasts and shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, asupport, a pair of rotary cutters mounted on the support, means to rotate the cutters in opposite directions, a carriage on the support, a heel block holder on the 'carriage, and means to reciprocate the carriage and the holder to present a heel successively to said cutters to shape the breast and under face of the heel shank.

6. A machine for shaping breasts and shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a support, va pair of rotary cutters mounted on the support, means to rotate said cutters, a carriage, a spindle on the carriage, a heel block holder ,mounted on the spindle, means to reciprocate the carriage to carry a heel block from one of the cutters to the other cutter, and means to impart rotative movement to the spindle and holder, thereby to rock the heel block relatively to the cutters, that they may Shape portions of the breast and under faceof the heel shank.

7. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder'v movable to a heel loading and discharge station, means to feed the holder from one of the cutters to the other cutter,

and means to impart rotative movement to the holder when at said cutters, that each may shape a portion of the breast and under curved Y face ofrthe heel shank.

` 8. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder having a pairof jaws for gripping a heel block between them, means for relatively moving said jaws to clamp and release the block, means tovfeed the holder from one of the cutters to theother cutter, and means to,

rock the holder when at said cutters, that the latter may shape the breast and convex under face of the heel shank.

9. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a h ecl block holder having a pair of jaws for gripping a heel block between them, a gauge for engagement with the front face of the block, means :for moving said gauge \to and from active position, and means rfor moving the holder to cause` the cutters successively to' shape portions of the breast and under face of the heel shank. v

' 10. A machine for shaping breasts and shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, -a heel holder having jaws 'for gripping a heel between them, a gauge for engaging the front face of the'block, actuating means for automatically moving the gauge to and from active posi-4 tion, and means for successively presenting the block to the cutters in a path to cause them to'shape portions of the under face of the heelshank, said gauge actuating means having prvi'sion for moving the gauge away from` the heel prior to movement of the holder.

l (lll llt) 11. 'A machine Vfor shaping breasts and heel block betweenv them, a gaugefon.' the holder for engagement With a side of the heel, a `gauge for engagement1 With the front Jface of the block, means for adjusting said gauges to suit heels of different-styles or sizes, and

means for moving the holder-relatively to the cutters.

13. A machine for shaping breasts and shanks of Wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel bhock holder having.. a pair of jaws for gripping a heel block between them, a Igauge on the holder for engagement With a side ofthe block, a gauge for engagement With the front face of the block, means for adjusting said jaws and gauges to suit .heels of different styles or sizes, and means for Imoving the holder relatively to the cutters.

14. A machine for shaping breastsand shanks offwood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a-heelv block holder having means for gripping a heel, means for moving the holrder successively to said cutters,means for rocking the holder when -at said' cutters to cause the latter to shape portions of the breasts and under face of a heel shank, and 'means to adjust the holder relatively to the cutters to suit heels of different styles or sizes.

15. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of Woody heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder, a spindle, a capstan nut threaded on a the spindle for supporting the holder and adjustable -to .move ythe holder relatively to the cutters to suit heels of 'different styles or sizes, and means successively to' present the holder and a heel block thereon to the cutters, that they may shape portions of the breast and under face of the heel shank.

16. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of wood heels comprising, in combination, a pairl of rotarycutters, a carriage, a heel block holder on the carriage, means to reciprocate the carriage and holder'transJ-f versely to the axes of the cutters, and means to o scillate the holder and a heel block in opposite directions when at said cutters, there- -by to cause the latter to shape portions'of the breast and under convex face of the shank of the heel. i

' 17. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks of 'Wood heels comprising, in combina tion, a pair of rotary cutters, a carriage, a heel block holder on the carriage, means in- 18. A machine for shaping breasts Land Shanks of Wood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder, a shaft, cams fast on said shaft, means operated by one-of the cams for imparting reciprocatory movements tothe holder, means operated by the other cam for imparting oscillatory movements to the holder, and means for rotating said shaft including a one-revolution-andstop'1nechanism. y

19. A machine for shaping breasts and Shanks ofwood heels comprising, in combination, a pair of rotary cutters, a heel block holder, a shaft, camsx fast on said shaft, means operated by one of the cams for imparting reciprocatory movements to the holder, means operated by the other cam for imparting-oscillatory movements to the holdermeans for rotating said shaft including a one-revolution-and-stop-mechanism, and a treadle oper` able to Iinitiate said revolution.

20. A" machine for' shaping breasts and shanksof Wood heels comprising, in eombination, a pair of rotary cutters, a carriage, a spindle on the carriage, a heel block holder on the spindle, a camf, a lever rocked by the cam, und a link connected to the lever and carriage, that the cam may reciprocatethe carriage, a second cam, a lever rocked by the latter, a rack connected to the latter lever, and a gear'on the spindle meshing With the rack,

that the second cam may impart `oscillatory cludinga cam for reciprocating the carriage and holder transversely to the axes of the cutters, thereby successively to present a heel block on theholder to said cutters, and means including a cam for imparting oscillatory movements] to the lholder and blocks when at said cutters, thereby to 'cause the latter to shape portions of the breast and under face of the heel shank. 

